EP0347030A2 - Dispositif et méthode de balayage - Google Patents

Dispositif et méthode de balayage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0347030A2
EP0347030A2 EP89303881A EP89303881A EP0347030A2 EP 0347030 A2 EP0347030 A2 EP 0347030A2 EP 89303881 A EP89303881 A EP 89303881A EP 89303881 A EP89303881 A EP 89303881A EP 0347030 A2 EP0347030 A2 EP 0347030A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pentaprism
light
support member
elements
scanning
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP89303881A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0347030A3 (fr
Inventor
John Alfred Lawson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
EOTRON Corp (an Ohio corporation)
Original Assignee
EOTRON Corp (an Ohio corporation)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by EOTRON Corp (an Ohio corporation) filed Critical EOTRON Corp (an Ohio corporation)
Publication of EP0347030A2 publication Critical patent/EP0347030A2/fr
Publication of EP0347030A3 publication Critical patent/EP0347030A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/08—Mirrors
    • G02B5/09—Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors, e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/08—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
    • G02B26/10—Scanning systems
    • G02B26/108—Scanning systems having one or more prisms as scanning elements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a scanning device and a scanning method for causing a beam of light to sweep across a surface and, more particularly, to such a device and method in which the beam is swept in succession along a plurality of generally parallel scan lines which are spaced apart on the surface.
  • the beam of light may be provided by a laser source.
  • the means for rotating the support member may comprise means for rotating the support member about an axis which is generally parallel to, but not aligned with, the beam of light.
  • the pentaprism elements are mounted on the support member so as to redirect the beam of light outward in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the support member, whereby movement of each pentaprism element through the path of the beam causes the beam to strike the surface and sweep along a path on the surface.
  • the scanning device may further include means for moving the pentaprism assembly means in a direction generally parallel with the surface.
  • the movement of successive pentaprism elements through the path of the beam causes the beam to sweep in succession along generally parallel, spaced paths on the surface. This produces scanning of the surface by the beam in a raster format.
  • the pentaprism element may be elongated and mounted on the support member periphery so as to intersect the beam during a portion of each revolution of the support member.
  • a lens means may be provided for focusing light which is redirected by the pentaprism elements on the surface.
  • the surface may be a planar surface with the lens means comprising a multiple element FO lens arrangement.
  • a scanning method for directing a beam of light to a surface may comprise the steps of:
  • the scanning method may further comprise the step of focusing the beam on a surface after redirection by the pentaprism element.
  • the step of rotating may include the step of rotating the pentaprism element about an axis generally parallel with the surface.
  • the step of providing a beam of light may include the step of providing a beam of light which is generally parallel to the surface.
  • the step of rotating may include the step of rotating a plurality of pentaprism elements about an axis which is not aligned with the pentaprism elements and from which the elements are spaced by substantially equal distances.
  • the step of providing a beam of light might include the step of providing a collimated beam of coherent light.
  • a scanning device for receiving light from an area on a distant surface. which area is repetitively swept across the surface comprises a detector means for providing an electrical signal in response to light incident thereon, and a pentaprism assembly means for receiving substantially collimated light from an area on a distant surface and redirecting the collimated light to the detector means.
  • the pentaprism assembly means includes a support member and a plurality of pentaprism elements positioned around the periphery of the support member.
  • a means is provided for rotating the support member such that successive ones of the plurality of pentaprism elements are brought into optical alignment with detector means. This redirects the collimated light to the detector means, whereby movement of each pentaprism element while aligned with the detector means causes the area to sweep across the surface.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate a scanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention for causing a beam of light 10 from a laser 12 to be repetitively swept across a surface 14.
  • Surface 14 is normal to the plane of the drawings in Figs. 1 and 2.
  • a pentaprism assembly means 16 for redirecting the beam of light 10 to the surface 14 includes a support member 18 and a plurality of pentaprism elements 20 which are spaced around the periphery of the support member 18.
  • the support member 18 and shaft 22 are rotated about an axis, which is generally parallel to, but not aligned with, the beam of light 10.
  • Shaft 22 is supported by appropriate bearing supports (not shown) and connected by drive linkage 24 to a drive motor 26, which may preferably be an electric motor.
  • Motor 26 and the bearing supports for shaft 22 are mounted on platform 28.
  • An actuator 30, which may preferably take the form an electric stepper motor, is connected by means of a linkage 32 to the platform 28 such that the platform, motor 26, drive linkage 24, shaft 22, and support member 18 may be moved linearly in a direction generally parallel to the surface 14.
  • the beam of light 10 from laser 12 is redirected as beam 34 by the pentaprism element 20, and then passes through a lens means 36 which focuses beam 34 on the surface 14.
  • the surface 14 is a planar surface, and the lens means 36 comprises a multiple element FO lens arrangement.
  • the lens means 36 may be a simple focusing lens if the surface 14 is curved about an axis coinciding generally with shaft 22.
  • a pentaprism has the unique and desirable property of diverting a beam of light at a constant angle, such as for example 90°, regardless of small changes in the orientation of the pentaprism.
  • the present invention takes advantage of the light diverting properties of pentaprism elements, and rotates a plurality of such elements about an axis which is offset with respect to the beam of light and with respect to the pentaprism elements.
  • Each of the pentaprism elements is caused to intersect the beam 10 during a portion of each rotation of the support member 18. While a pentaprism element is intersecting the beam, the pentaprism element causes the beam 34 to sweep across the surface 14.
  • each of the pentaprisms 20 is secured in position on the periphery of the support member 18 over one of the openings 38 so as to permit each pentaprism element 20 to intercept the beam 10 during a significant portion of the rotational cycle of the support member 18.
  • the pentaprism elements 20 may be adhesively secured to the support member 18. Elements 20 are aligned on member 18 by means of pins 40 which contact the sides of the elements.
  • the pentaprism elements 20 may be cut from a single, elongated prism so as to produce a set of pentaprism elements which have virtually identical reflection angle properties.
  • pentaprism element 20 illustrated at the top of member 18 in Fig. 2 initially intersects the beam 10 generally in the area indicated at 44 and, as the member 18 rotates, intersects the beam 10 in the central area indicated at 46 and ultimately in the area at 48 at the opposite end of the element 20.
  • the beam paths for beam 34 are indicated at 50, 52, and 54 for intersections in areas 44, 46, and 48, respectively.
  • the beam of light, focused by lens 36 sweeps across the surface 14 in the direction indicated by arrow 56.
  • This movement of the beam 34 is illustrated somewhat schematically in Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C, which are views of the pentaprism assembly means 16 as seen from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2.
  • beam 10 strikes each pentaprism element 20 at a relatively lower point on the pentaprism element near the ends of the element than near its mid-point. Areas 44 and 48 are thus relatively lower than area 46 on the pentaprism element 20. Although the angle of reflection of the beam 10 by the pentaprism element 20 is unaffected by the area on the pentaprism element which intercepts the beam, this relative vertical shift in the beam 10 does produce a lateral shift in the reflected beam 34. This may be seen by comparing Fig. 4A (corresponding to the beam 10 striking the prism 20 generally in the area 46) with Fig. 4B (corresponding to beam 10 striking the pentaprism 20 in the areas 44 and 48 adjacent the ends of the pentaprism element).
  • the reflector beam 34 is shifted to the left as the relative position of the beam 10 is lowered. Since the rays from laser source 12 are collimated and therefore parallel, the rays making up reflected beam 34 are parallel and will be focused on the surface 14 at the desired location by the lens 36. The location of the focus will not be affected by the lateral shift of beam 34 shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. It should be noted, however, that if the focusing lens arrangement were to be positioned between the laser source 12 and the pentaprism assembly means 16, a slightly bowed scan line would be traced across the surface 14 by the beam 34, since the lateral shift of beam 34 shown in Figs. 4A and 4B would not be compensated.
  • the scan lines on surface 14 are generally perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1 and parallel to the plane of Fig. 2.
  • the scan lines are spaced apart by a distance controlled by the amount of relative movement provided by actuator 30.
  • the platform 28 may be moved in a step-wise fashion between each sweep of the beam 34 so as to produce a series of parallel scan lines which are normal to the direction of movement of the platform 28.
  • platform 28 may be moved in a continuous fashion, producing a series of scan lines which are skewed slightly with respect to the direction of movement of the platform 28.
  • the device of the present invention is able to provide high precision scanning of a beam of light across a surface in a series of generally parallel, precisely positioned scan lines.
  • Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention which is particularly useful in aerial and satellite reconnaissance.
  • the device is shown in an inverted orientation for consistency with and ease of comparison to Figs. 1-4.
  • This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that it is passive, that is, it does not direct a beam of light toward surface 58, but rather simply receives ambient light which is reflected from surface 58.
  • this embodiment is carried in an aircraft to scan the surface 58 of the earth which is far below.
  • the scanning device is oriented as shown in Fig. 5. with respect to the direction of movement of the aircraft, such direction being indicated by arrow 64.
  • the device further includes pentaprism assembly means 70 for receiving substantially collimated light 60 from an area 62 on the distant surface 58 and redirecting the collimated light to the detector means 66.
  • the pentaprism assembly means 70 includes a support member 72 and a plurality of pentaprism elements 74 positioned around the periphery of the support member 72.
  • the pentaprism assembly means 70 is substantially the same as pentaprism assembly means 16.
  • a means for rotating the support member 72 such as motor 76 is provided such that successive ones of the plurality of pentaprism elements 74 are brought into optical alignment with detector means 66.
  • the pentaprism elements redirect the collimated light 60 to the detector means 66, whereby movement of each pentaprism element 74 while aligned with the detector means 66 causes the area 62 to sweep across the surface 58.
  • the size of the area 62 will depend on the spacing between the scanner device and the surface 58 and on the field of view of the detector.
  • the pentaprism elements 74 are mounted on the support member 72 so as to redirect the collimated light 60 in a direction generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the support member 72, whereby movement of each pentaprism element 74 causes the area 62 to sweep along a path on the surface which is generally normal to the plane of Fig. 5.
  • this device is advantageously used for aerial scanning.
  • the aircraft which carries the device constitutes the means for moving the pentaprism assembly means 70, as well as motor 76 and detector 66, in the direction indicated by arrow 64, generally parallel with the surface 58 and with the axis of rotation of shaft 78.
  • the movement of successive pentaprism elements 74 into alignment with the detector means 66 causes the area 62 to sweep in succession along generally parallel, off-set paths on the surface 58, thereby producing raster scanning of the surface.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Optical Scanning Systems (AREA)
EP19890303881 1988-06-13 1989-04-18 Dispositif et méthode de balayage Withdrawn EP0347030A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US205993 1988-06-13
US07/205,993 US4945287A (en) 1988-06-13 1988-06-13 Multiple pentaprism scanning device and method

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0347030A2 true EP0347030A2 (fr) 1989-12-20
EP0347030A3 EP0347030A3 (fr) 1991-09-04

Family

ID=22764534

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890303881 Withdrawn EP0347030A3 (fr) 1988-06-13 1989-04-18 Dispositif et méthode de balayage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US4945287A (fr)
EP (1) EP0347030A3 (fr)
JP (1) JPH01321422A (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991017466A1 (fr) * 1990-05-01 1991-11-14 Eastman Kodak Company Dispositif de balayage au laser de grand format dote d'un mecanisme de balayage insensible aux longueurs d'onde
EP0746865A1 (fr) * 1994-12-08 1996-12-11 Molecular Dynamics, Inc. Systeme d'imagerie par fluorescence utilisant un objectif a balayage sur grande echelle
GB2324168A (en) * 1997-04-11 1998-10-14 Geoffrey Owen Optical deflector and beam splitter

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6094287A (en) * 1998-12-03 2000-07-25 Eastman Kodak Company Wobble correcting monogon scanner for a laser imaging system
JP7011557B2 (ja) * 2018-09-07 2022-01-26 川崎重工業株式会社 レーザ光走査装置及びレーザ加工装置
JP2023045543A (ja) * 2021-09-22 2023-04-03 川崎重工業株式会社 レーザ加工方法

Citations (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US447587A (en) * 1891-03-03 smith
US4234241A (en) * 1978-08-02 1980-11-18 Deutsche Forschungs- Und Versuchsanstalt Fur Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. Stereo line scanner
US4319807A (en) * 1980-03-24 1982-03-16 Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. Rotating optical frequency chirp device
US4382680A (en) * 1979-09-26 1983-05-10 Hamar M R Apparatus and process for sweeping a flat optical light plane

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US3471236A (en) * 1964-03-30 1969-10-07 Us Army Prism for optical stroboscope
US3817593A (en) * 1971-11-11 1974-06-18 Te Co Image surface scanning system
US3828124A (en) * 1972-05-17 1974-08-06 Singer Co Decreased rotation rate scanning device
GB1382124A (en) * 1972-05-19 1975-01-29 Crosfield Electronics Ltd Scanners for image reproduction
US3966328A (en) * 1973-10-16 1976-06-29 Aga Aktiebolag Device for generating a spatial reference plane
US4321700A (en) * 1974-10-21 1982-03-23 Digital Recording Corporation Optical track segment intercept apparatus
US4002830A (en) * 1975-01-22 1977-01-11 Laser Graphic Systems Corporation Apparatus for compensating for optical error in a rotative mirror
US4170028A (en) * 1977-04-06 1979-10-02 Xerox Corporation Facet tracking in laser scanning
US4304459A (en) * 1979-07-02 1981-12-08 Xerox Corporation Reflective holographic scanning system insensitive to spinner wobble effects
US4268110A (en) * 1979-10-12 1981-05-19 Itek Corporation Facet angle corrector for multi-faceted optical scanner
CA1176879A (fr) * 1981-02-06 1984-10-30 Gary K. Starkweather Dispositif de balayage sans tremblement a facette unique
US4363539A (en) * 1981-07-20 1982-12-14 Gerber Scientific, Inc. Photohead with flashing beam
US4433894A (en) * 1981-11-12 1984-02-28 Lincoln Laser Company Method and apparatus for generating optical scans
US4468119A (en) * 1982-05-24 1984-08-28 Hamar M R Penta-prism module having laser alignment error detection and correction capability
US4544228A (en) * 1982-09-14 1985-10-01 Spectra-Physics, Inc. Scanning method using a rotating prism
US4606601A (en) * 1982-09-24 1986-08-19 Xerox Corporation Single facet wobble free scanner
US4768184A (en) * 1987-01-23 1988-08-30 General Electric Company Apparatus and method for minimizing magnification distortion in multi-track optical recording

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US447587A (en) * 1891-03-03 smith
US4234241A (en) * 1978-08-02 1980-11-18 Deutsche Forschungs- Und Versuchsanstalt Fur Luft- Und Raumfahrt E.V. Stereo line scanner
US4382680A (en) * 1979-09-26 1983-05-10 Hamar M R Apparatus and process for sweeping a flat optical light plane
US4319807A (en) * 1980-03-24 1982-03-16 Jersey Nuclear-Avco Isotopes, Inc. Rotating optical frequency chirp device

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991017466A1 (fr) * 1990-05-01 1991-11-14 Eastman Kodak Company Dispositif de balayage au laser de grand format dote d'un mecanisme de balayage insensible aux longueurs d'onde
EP0746865A1 (fr) * 1994-12-08 1996-12-11 Molecular Dynamics, Inc. Systeme d'imagerie par fluorescence utilisant un objectif a balayage sur grande echelle
EP0746865A4 (fr) * 1994-12-08 1999-09-01 Molecular Dynamics Inc Systeme d'imagerie par fluorescence utilisant un objectif a balayage sur grande echelle
GB2324168A (en) * 1997-04-11 1998-10-14 Geoffrey Owen Optical deflector and beam splitter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0347030A3 (fr) 1991-09-04
JPH01321422A (ja) 1989-12-27
US4945287A (en) 1990-07-31

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